Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Gen 2 Illuminated Midrange Grille Installation Guide

This guide concerns the second-generation illuminated door midrange grilles archived as CKCP source archive. The Chinese article describes matching the factory ambient-lighting system and synchronizing its lighting functions.

Fitment needs confirmation: the article and product image state 2016–2023 W213; the installation video title states 2016–2022. This discrepancy has not been resolved. Confirm the vehicle year, door trim, lighting configuration and supplied Gen 2 kit before installation. A first-generation grille tutorial is not a substitute for this source.

Kit and module identification

The original product image lists:

1. Four illuminated midrange grilles.
2. Two module power harnesses, shown with blue connectors and cloth wrapping.
3. Four ambient-lighting control modules.
4. Four extension harnesses.

The source module label identifies a factory-ambient-lighting LIN control module (YC), CKCP V1.0, dated 2024/07/15. This is a label identification, not a confirmed electrical specification or permission to use the module on every chassis printed on its casing.

The current English image has incorrect added notes below the four component groups and obscures part of the original module label. Use the component description above for this archived kit; the added notes are not wiring instructions. Image correction remains pending.

Installation sequence shown in the source video

The following sequence is recovered from this tutorial's own Gen 2 installation video. Times refer to that video. The tools card shows a flathead screwdriver, T30 driver, plastic trim tool, cloth harness tape and side cutters. The source uses two flathead screwdrivers to release paired trim clips; it does not specify a “No. 200 knife.”

1. Remove the front and rear door panels (approximately 00:16–01:40). The demonstration removes the illustrated screws, releases the perimeter clips, lifts/releases the upper panel attachment, and disconnects the door-handle release cable and electrical plugs. Front and rear screw positions are shown separately. The release cable is not a zipper or a zip tie. The source is not a complete power-isolation or door-panel service procedure.
2. Release the front decorative trim (01:41–02:19). Work from the back of the removed panel. The demonstration releases the paired metal clips with two flathead screwdrivers, disconnects/removes the original ambient-light lamp as shown, and releases the additional retaining clip before lifting out the trim.
3. Replace the front grille (02:20–02:52). The source removes factory adhesive at the original grille's four retaining clips and releases the grille. Align the replacement grille's notch and engage its four clips. Approved adhesive-removal and retention requirements still need technical confirmation; the video does not authorize cutting structural clips.
4. Refit the front trim and route its lighting lead (02:58–03:29). Engage the rear hook first, route the new lighting lead through the original lamp-lead position, reseat the trim clips and reconnect the original lamp as shown.
5. Identify the front extension harness and module connections (03:30–04:27). The extension connects to the grille lead; the unused connector is wrapped. The source identifies the module connections as 4P and 5P, and the blue adapter is shown at the factory connector referenced as No. 6. These are connector references, not instructions to move a wire to cavity 4, 5 or 6. Exact terminal assignments and approved module fixing remain unverified. The demonstration vehicle already has a rotating tweeter; its additional adapter connection is conditional on that separate installation and is not a requirement for every grille kit.
6. Replace the rear grille and refit the rear trim (04:27–05:51). Disconnect the original lamp lead, release the paired trim clips from behind with two flathead screwdrivers, remove the original grille's adhesive/retainers, and align the replacement grille's notch. Refit the trim, route the lighting lead through the demonstrated lamp-lead position and reconnect the original lamp.
7. Identify the rear harness and reconnect the door panel (05:52–07:23). Connect the extension to the grille lead and wrap the spare connector. The source again calls the module connectors 4P and 5P; “video connector” and “5B” in the current English video are translation errors. It shows the large blue adapter at factory connector No. 6, and reconnects the illustrated smaller factory connector No. 5, speaker connector and handle release cable. Confirm the exact kit diagram and vehicle connector identities before making electrical connections.
8. Check operation (07:23–07:33). The presenter instructs the installer to check all functions after reassembly. This is an instruction, not documented proof that all colors, factory lighting functions or door functions passed a complete test.

The source does not establish a universal pinout, wire color assignment, voltage, fastening torque, approved module mounting position, coding procedure or complete vehicle safety process. Those details remain to be confirmed for the exact vehicle and kit.

Troubleshooting from the original article

Use the section that matches the vehicle's existing lighting configuration. These are the source's diagnostic checks; comparison results indicate a suspected fault and do not replace technical verification. No terminal-moving instructions are supplied here.

Vehicles with factory ambient lighting

1. Both the illuminated grille and factory door ambient light are off. The source first calls for locking the vehicle and allowing 10 minutes of sleep. It then compares the factory circuit with the added adapter removed: normal factory operation points to the adapter; continued abnormal operation points to the factory signal or other added adapter connections. The sleep interval is a diagnostic reset step, not a verified power-isolation procedure.
2. The factory door ambient light works but the illuminated grille is off. Check for a loose adapter plug or bent terminals. Compare with a known-good adapter: recovery points to the original adapter; no recovery points to the grille's light unit. Compare terminal positions against a verified kit reference rather than guessing a pin arrangement.

Vehicles with aftermarket 64-color ambient lighting

This heading describes an existing aftermarket configuration; it does not instruct the owner to convert the vehicle to 64-color lighting.

1. The whole vehicle's ambient lighting and illuminated grilles are off. First check whether the underlying ambient-lighting system is functioning normally.
2. One door's aftermarket ambient light works but its illuminated grille is off. Check the adapter connection and terminals. Compare with a known-good light unit; recovery points to the original light unit.
3. Both the illuminated grille and ambient light on one door are off. Check the plugs and operation of the added lighting module for that door.
4. A particular mixed color is wrong. Check whether red, blue and green are all available as individual colors. The source associates a missing primary color with a light-unit fault and also calls for checking terminal alignment. If all primary colors are available, check whether the ambient-lighting system needs its own color-synchronization procedure. That procedure is not included in this archive and must not be invented.

Installation video and result evidence

The archived installation source is identified as WX-0076 / video 264 / wxv_3713896974693711882, specifically the W213 Gen 2 grille installation. The English video below remains bound to that source. Its subtitle/voiceover script needs correction for the opening tools and removal sequence, door-handle cable terminology, flathead screwdrivers, 4P/5P connectors and the conditional rotating-tweeter connection. Chinese technical overlays remain in the current video. Complete continuous playback and sound review are still pending.

The original result-video entry contains only a generic WeChat address and does not identify a result article or video. A verified result clip and a documented functional check remain required; this local guide is not installation approval.